Well, it’s now December, which means this blog’s three years old. How scary. Life was quite substantially different three years ago (in both a better way and a worse way). Starting a blog was just a laugh at the time, which on reflection might be the best attitude to have, since looking for a greater importance seems bound to fail.
Read More »1095 Days
This is slightly old news, but I wanted to comment on the exclusion of Christopher Lee’s footage of Saruman in The Return of the King.
It seems amazing that they would go to the trouble of having Christopher fly out to film extra footage (his last day of shooting was back in July) only to not use it in the theatrical release—sure, it’ll show up on the extended DVD eventually, but it seems to me these things ought to have been planned out long ago. Such last-minute decisions doesn’t create an awfully good impression. Mr. Lee will not be attending the premiere, and I can’t say I blame him. He deserves more respect.
As noted in the previous comments thingy, I made the decision Monday that I’d had enough of the endless New Deal harassments (it’s been going on in some form or other since March). I had two appointments in one day: I neglected to attend both of them.
The government will, of course, suspend my benefit almost immediately. Well, tough! I almost took this route four months ago, but someone out there (not a Jobcentre person, I hasten to add) decided to treat me with a bit of understanding. Fine. But enough’s enough. Their tiny handouts just aren’t worth the stress. Sunday, I had a recurrence of IBS, which hasn’t bothered me for a year or so. By Monday, it was crippling me. Funnily enough, it’s mostly subsided now. I might be in deep shit as far as money goes, but I feel a lot less stressed out.
Oh, I haven’t a clue what to do. Broadly speaking, I think I have to consider myself self-employed at the moment and figure out if I can make money from something for once in my life.
Read More »Moving On
I’m feeling the worst depression I’ve had for quite a while. [I initially put it more strongly than that, but in reflection, I prefer it this way.]
Read More »Tired of Life
Oh, I wanted to mention the return of the fabulous Foyle’s War last Sunday. You haven’t seen it? This is essential viewing, beautifully photographed and… Read More »Don’t Mention the War
The Christmas display in Birmingham is well up to its usual unimpressive standards. Tourists are flocking from yards around to see the spectacle. Hm. Yes. Well, actually, I’ve just found that taking a snap of part of it while walking makes it almost look interesting…
Psychedelic! Well, kinda.
Read More »Ho Ho Ho
I think I consider myself an unsuccessful person in most respects. I’m always wary of buying into someone else’s subjective value system; our government would, no doubt, love to ram their values down all our throats forcibly if that were possible. I’m trying to define success on a personal level that means something to me.
Trouble is, even on my own terms, I can’t find much from my current or past life that would qualify as successful (or even especially rewarding, which is probably the best kind of success of all). I’ve wasted half my life treading water. I think my recent birthday still troubles me on that level.
I don’t think I relate to other people very well. Most people are very facile at pretending they’re okay (most of the time), really well adjusted and comfortable, etc. I’m not sure it’s possible for any of us to be genuinely comfortable in this intense, madhouse environment we’re living in. We’ve abandoned almost everything that constituted our default existence, and such profound artificiality can’t possibly hold together coherently. Well, I mean, it doesn’t! I think society is more culturally divided than it ever was, even though more people are straining to pretend otherwise. (Usually, alas, to flatter their own egos rather than to seek genuine change.)
Read More »Success is…?
Terrible, rainy weather today. I’m not really stuck in the house, but I had a couple of non-urgent errands that this wretched downpour has dissuaded me from doing today. (Okay, I’m a wuss. Sue me.)
I had plans for last Wednesday. Saruman himself, Christopher Lee, was signing his autobiography, Lord of Misrule, in London at Forbidden Planet on Saturday and Borders on Wednesday. I thought I’d go for Wednesday. Alas, irrevocable transport problems put the kibosh on my plans… I did finally make it into Brum, but too late to get an affordable train that would’ve been on time. My only choice was a Virgin train for £30. I was forced to admit defeat.
Well, not really. I was thinking about the patently impossible task (suggested by David [dead link]) of making a Bowie Top Ten (see my general Favourite Sounds list here). Can’t be done! But I’ll grab ten songs anyway and refuse to stand by them tomorrow, okay?
But first…
Older and craggier, but still a God! Sorry, just wanted to include a photo. Right, here’s my carelessly compiled list…
Read More »Best of Bowie
Here’s how interesting the scenery out and about today was:
Well, I went to Brum yesterday (and Merryhill Wednesday), which was slightly more riveting, but I think I wanted a really boring photo to capture the true West Midlands spirit! Can you identify this spot? I picked a more obscure area/angle to make it harder.
Read More »That is the Question
